More details about the next entry in the Battlefield franchise have been revealed during a recent EA Investor’s presentation, with a “large scale community-driven testing program” for the game set to begin in early 2025.
During the presentation, Battlefield general manager Byron Beede shared more insights into how the four studios working on the upcoming shooter are operating, putting a focus on “finding the fun” through rapid prototyping and player feedback. Beede said the teams have been “playing the game nearly daily for well over a year,” which has helped the development process.
Each of the four studios working on the game are contributing to different aspects of it. DICE is handling the trademark multiplayer the franchise is known for with help from Criterion. Additionally, Criterion is also working on the single-player campaign for the next Battlefield alongside Motive. Finally, Ripple Effect is working on a mysterious “new Battlefield experience.”
“They’re working on a new Battlefield experience fueled by the unique Battlefield DNA that’s been testing really well with players,” Beede said. He did not go into additional detail as to what the mode would entail.
Beede went on to say that the teams are building a Battlefield connected universe set in the modern day, and that with the full support of EA, the next Battlefield game has the “largest, strongest, and most focused team” in the history of the franchise.
Few other details about the next Battlefield have been revealed, but head of Respawn and Battlefield boss Vince Zampella did recently confirm the game will have a modern setting and that the new entry in the series will be “more akin to previous Battlefields.”
That means fewer player counts compared to the 128-player matches seen in Battlefield 2042 and that 2042’s Specialist system won’t be returning, with the new game instead returning to class-based gameplay. He said while Battlefield 2042 wasn’t a failure and that the team spent “a lot of time learning” to get it into a better place, the goal with the new entry is for it to be “good out of the gate.”
Zampella said he believes there is a possibility the next Battlefield game could outsell Call of Duty, though he acknowledged that the two series are distinct and offer different experiences to fans.
Battlefield 2042 released in 2021 and was quickly criticized for its buggy launch and changes to the classic Battlefield formula. Many of Battlefield 2042’s maps and systems were dramatically reworked in the years since launch with the game’s Season 7 update, released in March, being its final season.
